Preamble
Introduction
2.1 Please bear with us
2.2 Take your time answering this one
2.3 A tale of two goats
2.4 Get your brain in gear
Science like what is done
3.1 What is science?
3.2 The methods of science
3.3 Where do scientists get the questions they ask?
3.4 Prediction and predilection
Science and sciencisms
4.1 How scientists work
4.2 The hierarchy of science
4.3 Similarities and differences
4.4 Honest measurement
Observations, examinations and experiments
5.1 Observations
5.2 Hypothesis
5.3 Experiment
What are you measuring?
6.1 variability, sampling and population
6.2 Randomisation
6.3 ... and blinding
Thinking about your measurements
7.1 If you have to use statistics
7.2 Sensible statistics
7.3 Different ways of showing measurement xe "measurement" 'error xe "measurement error" s'
7.4 Transformation and scaling
7.5 Biological systems and variability
7.6 Hypothesis testing
7.7 Post-experimental statistics
7.8 Honest reporting of hypothesis xe "hypothesis" testing
7.9 Pre-experimental statistics
7.10 Conclusions
Interpreting your measurements
8.1 Interpretation involves commitment
8.2 Bayesian thinking
8.3 Cryptic assumptions
8.4 Linking your prior to your posterior
8.5 Conclusions
Kinds of experiments xe "experiment"
9.1 Here's one we prepared earlier
9.2 Kinds of experiment
9.3 Defect experiments
9.4 Latin squares and other dances
9.5 Result-reversal experiments
Early pregnancy xe "pregnancy" tests
Staining with fluorescent (or enzyme-linked) antibodies
The ames xe "ames" test
The cabbage xe "cabbages" experiment xe "experiment" yet again
9.6 Demi-reversal xe "experiment: demi-reversal" experiments
Trichuris trichiura xe "trichuris trichiura" and cognitive development
Cholera off-tap
Iron chloride in the south atlantic
9.7 Competition xe "experiment: competition" experiments
Plants from mine tailings
Acceptable and unacceptable sperm
Dna xe "dna" competition xe "experiment: competition" for dna
9.8 The results of experiments
9.9 Function deprived and restored
Here's the answer - what's the question?
10.1 Explanation
How many explanations are there?
The non-explanation explanation xe "explanation" : ric!
10.2 Believability
10.3 Hidden dimensions
10.4 Authority and reductionism
10.5 Cycles of explanation and scales of organisation
10.6 Better explanations
10.7 Causation and causality
10.8 Hypothesis, paradigm and progression
10.9 Conclusions
Content and context
11.1 The postgraduate in context
11.2 A list of real difficulties you might face
11.3 Honesty and dishonesty
11.4 What is postgraduate research for?
11.5 Content and context
Notes for postgraduate students
12.1 Where and with whom?
12.2 More social science
12.3 Giving an informal research presentation
12.4 Saving theories
12.5 Explaining and demonstrating
12.6 Poster sessions
12.7 Giving a formal oral presentation
12.8 Writing a scientific paper
12.9 Writing a thesis
Postamble
Index.
OBNB doesn't sell books, but you may be able to find a copy at one of these websites:
Stop working & start thinking : a guide to becoming a scientist by Jack Cohen. ISBN 0415368308. Published by Taylor & Francis in 2005. Publication and catalogue information, links to buy online and reader comments.
